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Fandom wars are pretty common in the anime industry. From verbal spats to banter, the space is filled with smug fans. What’s more concerning is the rise of the review bomb culture. And like most mangaka, Tite Kubo wasn’t exempt from this. To keep it simple, review bombing is when people bombard a series with negative reviews. This may have gotten out of line in this case.
Out of Shonen’s big three,One Pieceis reigning supreme in its popularity. With its fans review bombingBleach, it is concerning for the series. This extends to Eiichiro Oda who was “hated” by the mangaka. The rise of this hate culture not only reflects on fans but affects the whole community as a whole. This seemingly concerns both mangaka and their relationship as rivals.
One Piece fandom review bombs Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
One Pieceis the uncontested series among the big three of Shonen. From its world record to cult popularity, it is soaring heights. This is relevant to the expansion of the franchise. The series has become acultural phenomenonworldwide with its impact. This is evident in theme parks and tourist attractions dedicated to the anime. There is a caveat to this though.
The fandom seems to have caught on to the toxic culture. While most fanbases exude a holier-than-thou aura,it is aggravatedin this case. The series’ soaring popularity and success has caught on to fans. While this may seem trivial, it is concerning for the creators. But this time, the ‘fans’ took it too far.
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An Instagram post by@otakunewsinsideroutlined a clear case of review bombing forBleach.
A post shared by Otaku Insider • Anime News (@otakunewsinsider)
Despite the childish behavior, both fandoms shared a heartfelt moment of solidarity. This is refreshing considering the amount of competition both mangaka face. It also takes us back to the moment Kubo revealed his ‘hate’ for the esteemed mangaka.
Tite Kubo and his ‘Hate’ for Eiichiro Oda
Despite the brutal competition,Eiichiro OdaandTite Kuboshare a friendly rivalry. Both mangaka are contemporaries with their iconic series inducted among shonen’s big three. With Kubo’s deteriorating health andhaphazard ending, the series took a ten-year hiatus. This was also reflected in the series, especially in its popularity. The tides did turn in the mangaka’s favor.
The series made a comeback in 2022 with its sequelThousand Year Blood War. The sequel covers the final arcs with a well-paced plotline. In regards to the toxic fanbase, Kubo oncerevealed his hate for Oda. This was in the context of his editor telling him to render the mangaka’s style. While this was meant in jest, the latter didn’t shy away either. He quoted:
I remember Kubo’s debut manga since we are around the same age. I felt, “Wow, this new mangaka has good drawing skill. His idea is good as well. His drawings eloquently tell us he is a pretty confident guy.”
Now that he mentioned me that way, I announce here with 100% confidence that someone like Kubo is a competitive super-hard worker. I’m sure you are feeling embarrassed now. You are a man of hard work!
Both mangaka are esteemed artists who are iconic in their own way. This is clear in their mutual respect despite the brutal competition.
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Fans’ toxic review bombing doesn’t affect the mutual respect between mangakas. It does, however, reflect on the whole community and fanbase. While this isn’t the first incident, it is concerning especially with the growing hostility among fans. One can be hopeful that fans break free from toxicity and move in solidarity through mutual respect.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood WarandOne Pieceare available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
Himanshi Jeswani
Anime Writer
Articles Published :993
Himanshi Jeswani is an anime writer at Fandomwire, with her work spanning over 900 articles. Her articles cover shojo, shonen, seinen, and all things beyond. Her interests, however, aren’t limited to simply anime. She has a penchant for exploring different genres of manga, be it horror, yanki, music, and food. She brings out her specialization and expertise in the performing arts through her articles. As a writer, she strives to bridge the gap between the viewers and the medium itself. To her, anime is a revolutionary medium that is capable of creating communities and stories after all.
